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Suggest Remedies For Frequent Headache In A Child

Posted on Fri, 26 Aug 2016

Question: My 8 year old daughter has been having headaches even a handful of migraines, for 3 1/2 years now! She used to chronic sinusitis so her doctors and I figured the headaches were sinus related but she had her adenoids removed this past Drcember and hasn't gotten sick often since but she still gets the headaches. We also ruled out allergies because she had allergy tests done and she tested negative to everything. She's also had her vision tested. She gets one to two headaches per week and it's usually afternoon or evening! I notice she gets them anytime it's very hot outside and she's been very active. Migraines due run in the family! Her father gets frequent headaches and migraines, and has for years! She has no other symptoms other than a headache and it goes away quickly with ibuprophen! Should I be concerned over a more serious cause? Would other symptoms have risen by now if it was something more serious?

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Looks like Migraine - do not worry

Detailed Answer:
Hi...Thank you for consulting in Health Care magic.
Headache in kids need to be considered serious only when the below symptoms are there -
1. Vomiting continuously
2. Seizures/ Fits
3. Watery of bloody discharge from ears and nose
4. Unconsciousness
5. Altered sensorium or behaviour.

Without the above red flag symptoms, just feeling low energy levels points out towards Migraine and other sorts of tension headaches which are on the rise in current scenario due to excessive academic and peer stress the kids are experiencing.

I have a few questions for you -
1. How long has the headache been there?
2. Does it occur always on forehead or keeps changing?
3. Is it associated with blurring of eyes or double vision or giddiness?
4. Is she very angry when he gets headache and does the ache get better after a good sleep?
6. Does she vomit when there is headache?

Kindly get back to me with the answers to above questions and also mention his weight so that I can suggest you the formulations which are good. But as of now - you can give oral Paracetamol in the dose of 15mg/kg/dose(max ceiling dose 500mg) every 4-6th hourly.

Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (4 hours later)

Hi! My daughter is 8 yrs old. Shes been getting headaches since she was almost 5 years old. She weighs 66 lbs! Her headaches are always in the temple and forehead region, and shevnever complains of vision problems. She does not get angry with the headache, usually if it gets bad she kind of sits or lays around until the ibuprophen kicks in, which usually takes affect pretty quickly. Usually her headaches get better after sleep, but usually once i give her medicine, she gets back up to playing. Her headaches are always in the afternoon or evening. Very rarely does ahe vomit with a headache. She has a handful of tomes within three years, but when she did vomit, it was after having a bad migraine then she when she vomitted, thr headache would subside snd she would sleep for hours and wake up and feel better. She hasnt had a headache that made her vomit in about a year and a half!

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Looks like simple migraine only - please continue with Ibuprofen

Detailed Answer:
Hi...This looks like simple migraine only - please continue with Ibuprofen as of now. But I suggest you keep a calendar note about the frequency of usage of Ibuprofen usage and if it too frequent then she might need Propranolol which is a second line drug.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (12 hours later)

How often would be considered too much ibuprophen? She takes a 300mg dose about once or twice per week! Also, do migraines wake you up at night? She woke up saying she had a headache at 2:30 am a few days ago but it was a small headache and i gave ger medicine and ahe went right back to sleep. She had been coughing alot that night! That was an isolated incident because she never wakes with a headache during the night!

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Suggestion on Ibuprofen

Detailed Answer:
Hi...coming to the queries directly -

1. Once or twice a week 300mg Ibuprofen doesn't harm.

2. It is possible for the migraine head ache to wake up from sleep. But cough could also have been an instigating factor in this isolated incident.

3. The potential toxic single dose of Ibuprofen in kids is - 200 mg/kg.

4. Coming to the query of how frequently Ibuprofen can be given - For Pain -4 -10 mg/kg/dose orally every 6-8hr; not to exceed 40 mg/kg/day.

I wish your kid a speedy recovery. If you need any future medical consultation and suggestions, I will be glad to help. You can approach me at the following link. Once the page opens there will be an option below my image as – ASK ME A QUESTION – click on it. Please find the link below -

www.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-sumanth-amperayani/67696

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar